I don't have the answers. I am not the BEST organizer. In fact, I know that I can be wrong a lot! What I DO know is that organizing is hard (even for organized people). It takes work and motivation.
My blog is meant to INSPIRE you, and maybe give you some insight that you can use within your own life. I hope to share things that work for me - with the hope that things will be be better for YOU! Enjoy!

disorder2order blog

Thursday, November 21, 2013

This was an article I posted on CWAHM.com [shout out to Jill] a few years back...I thought it prudent to share again! Email is one of those things that need to be managed... enjoy!

Email management can be overwhelming for everyone. Some
people get as many as one hundred emails each day, while others may only get
ten or twenty.Either way, keeping it
all organized and in working order may not be on the top of the “organization”
list. It’s easier just to close the program and deal with it tomorrow.

I was reading some statistics online and Tim Burress, author
of the Hamster Revolution, states that “On average, a professional today spends about two and a half to three
hours a day, every single day on e-mail. We spend about forty percent of our
day processing, handling, filing, storing, creating, reading, and writing
e-mail. That's almost fifty percent of the day.”

Here is an A-Z guide on how you can be more organized and
efficient with your email. It might be one simple step that can give you more
time for work or family.

Address book or contact files
can take time to set up, but will be a time saver in the long run.You can track more than just an email address
when you use the address book or contacts feature.

Be sure to take a moment to customize
your toolbars. Almost all programs will allow you to add and delete quick
function buttons from the toolbars. This can really speed up your processing of
email.

Create folders for saved
messages. Your inbox is just that, an inbox. If you have emails that you want
to save, create a subfolder for your saved items.

Delete when completed! Emails
that come into your inbox either require an action or response. Once you have
completed the request be sure to hit delete!

Empty your in box each day. When
you close your email for the day, your inbox should be empty.

Follow up within 24 business
hours. It’s a good business practice to reply, even if you don’t have the
answers, just acknowledging that you received the message shows good
organization.

Goal setting can become a little
simpler by using your completed task list items. It’s easy to set goals when
you see what you have accomplished.

Help button does actually help!
If you are stuck, always check HELP to see if the answer is there.

Interruptions can be managed by
turning off or changing your notification settings when emails arrive.

Junk mail can be filtered on
almost any email service.

Keep and Toss applies to emails
as well as our stuff. Be sure to get rid of unwanted or unused emails, it’s
still clutter.

Learn the program. If you are
using email, take the time to learn how it works and what features might help
you.

Maintenance on your email files
is just as important as managing your stuff. Setting up regular reminders to
manage tasks

Never substitute email for a conversation.
It’s easy to hide behind the screen and not address business situations in
person. Remember that people always like the personal touch.

Open emails from people you trust!
Always be aware of who is sending you messages.

Putting off simple tasks takes more time to
manage in the long run. Things like setting reminders, quick responses only
take a few seconds. Do the simple tasks now!

Quick review of emails can be
done through a reading pane without having to open each message when it
arrives.

Reply all can be a dangerous
feature. Always be aware of who your message is going to before you hit
send.

Sizes of emails do matter.
Remember that the more emails you have in your inbox or deleted folders slow
your pc down.

Task lists can be created in
just about any email program. Tasks can be reminders or action items.Use
your signature line as a means to advertiseVery
helpful tools are distribution lists. If you have a group of people that
you email on a regular basis, create a distribution list.Write
emails as if you are writing a letter, using both upper and lower case
means something in email. For example, if you use only caps it can be interpreted
as yelling.eXamine
the processes you are taking when using email. If you feel like there is an
easier way, there probably is, use the tools.You’re
in charge. Setting limits to the amount of time you spend on email
allows you to enjoy other things.Zero
in your publication list to the things you actually will read. We often
subscribe to so many things that we “think” we will read, but if you aren’t
reading it… unsubscribe!

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

If you follow me on Facebook, you will notice that I'm 'trying' to post each day something that I am grateful for.

For me, it's a opportunity to reflect on the many blessings in my life, a time to reflect on the many things that I have had the opportunity to enjoy...

Taking time, even just a minute, each day to think about my blessings serves as a reminder to so many things. We use reminders everyday... that tiny voice in our head reminding us to make a phone call, a sticky note on the fridge to remember the milk. Reminders, are a great way to getting things done and be a little more organized. As I get older, I'm 'reminded' that I struggle more with remembering things. My memory isn't as good as it used to be; and if I don't offer myself help or use a support system - then I just won't remember. Although I'm an organizer I still have to work just as hard as you do to keep it all together...

Here are 5 things you can try to help you with reminders:

Pen and paper (personally I like a post-it's) is what I enjoy for remembering a task

Family calendars (Cozi online or check out etsy ideas) can be a central system within your home to organize your thoughts and/or tasks

Voice mail or text messages are a wonderful way to be reminded of specific things

If we don't remember, we don't know what we forgot.

I find that when I remember to do something (and it actually gets done), I have a sense of accomplishment and gratitude. Today, I am grateful for remembering to do my blog post... they go together like peas and carrots.

"Blessed are those that can give
without remembering and receive without forgetting." - Author Unknown